Wall switch lockout

Abstract

A wall switch lockout device for selectively limiting access to a wall switch relative to which the wall switch lockout device is mounted. The wall switch lockout device includes a mountable base having a switch opening extending therethrough for receiving the wall switch, a cover positionable and securable over a front face of the mountable base for selectively covering and limiting access to the switch opening, and one or more inserts received in the mountable base and slidable relative thereto. The wall switch lockout device further has a pair of mounting openings for mounting the mountable base and at least one of the pair of mounting openings is on the one or more inserts such that, when the one or more inserts are slid relative to the mountable base, a hole-to-hole distance between the pair of mounting openings is variably adjusted.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wall switch lockout device for selectively limiting access to a wall switch relative to which the wall switch lockout device is mounted, the wall switch lockout device comprising:
 a mountable base having a front face and a rear face, the mountable base having a switch opening extending therethrough from the front face to the rear face for receiving the wall switch therethrough; 
 a cover positionable and securable over the front face of the mountable base for selectively covering and limiting access to the switch opening; 
 a pair of mounting openings for mounting the mountable base in which the pair of mounting openings extend in a direction perpendicular to a front face of the mountable base; and 
 at least one insert received in the mountable base and slidable relative thereto; 
 wherein at least one of the pair of mounting openings is on the at least one insert such that, when the at least one insert is slid relative to the mountable base, a hole-to-hole distance between the pair of mounting openings is variably adjusted. 
 
     
     
       2. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more inserts are a pair of inserts with each of the respective inserts have a corresponding one of the pair of mounting openings thereon. 
     
     
       3. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of inserts are both slidable towards or away from one another along paths of linear translation that lie along a single line. 
     
     
       4. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of inserts and corresponding pair of mounting openings are on opposing top and bottom sides of the switch opening. 
     
     
       5. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the mountable base includes a securement projection extending from the front face thereof with a lock opening therein; 
 wherein the cover includes a slit through which the securement projection is receivable when the cover is in a closed position, such that the lock opening is accessible to receive a lock therethrough to prevent the cover from being moved from the closed position to the opened position. 
 
     
     
       6. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is hinged to the mountable base. 
     
     
       7. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 6 , wherein the cover is hinged to the mountable base at a top end thereof. 
     
     
       8. A wall switch lockout device for selectively limiting access to a wall switch relative to which the wall switch lockout device is mounted, the wall switch lockout device comprising:
 a mountable base having a front face and a rear face, the mountable base having a switch opening extending therethrough from the front face to the rear face for receiving the wall switch therethrough, wherein the mountable base includes a base rail and a base guide; 
 a cover positionable and securable over the front face of the mountable base for selectively covering and limiting access to the switch opening; 
 a pair of mounting openings for mounting the mountable base; and 
 at least one insert received in the mountable base and slidable relative thereto, wherein the at least one insert includes an insert rail and an insert guide; 
 wherein at least one of the pair of mounting openings is on the at least one insert such that, when the at least one insert is slid relative to the mountable base, a hole-to-hole distance between the pair of mounting openings is variably adjusted; and 
 wherein the insert guide of the at least one insert is attachable to the base rail of the mountable base and the insert rail is attachable to the insert guide such that the insert is slidable relative to the mountable base along attachments between the insert guide and the base rail and between the base guide and the insert rail. 
 
     
     
       9. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 8 , wherein one or both of the insert guide and the base guide include retaining projections such that the insert guide and the base guide is snappable onto the respective base rail or insert rail. 
     
     
       10. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 8 , further comprising a pair of detents for maintaining a pair of respective positions of the at least one insert relative to the mountable base. 
     
     
       11. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of detents are projections extending rearwardly from a rear face of the mountable base and are positioned over a translational path of the at least one insert relative to the mountable base. 
     
     
       12. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 10 , wherein there are a pair of inserts and wherein the pair of respective positions of the inserts establishable using the pair of detents include:
 a rocker position for mounting the wall switch lockout device to a wall switch having a rocker-type switch with an associated rocker switch hole-to-hole distance; and 
 a toggle position for mounting the wall switch lockout device to a wall switch having a toggle-type switch with an associated toggle switch hole-to-hole distance; 
 wherein the rocker switch hole-to-hole distance is larger than the toggle switch hole-to-hole distance. 
 
     
     
       13. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert is slidable relative to the mountable base using a guide and rail connection that slidably connect the at least one insert to the mountable base. 
     
     
       14. A method of installing the wall switch lockout device of  claim 1  comprising:
 positioning the at least one insert relative to the mountable base to establish the hole-to-hole distance between the pair of mounting openings; and 
 mounting the mountable base using the pair of mounting openings. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of mounting the mountable base involves mounting the mountable base to a wall switch by receiving mounting screws through the pair of mounting openings. 
     
     
       16. The wall switch lockout device of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of mounting openings are configured for receiving mounting screws therethrough for mounting the wall switch lockout device to the wall switch.